Commission approved in Chile that will draft a Constitution that relieves that of Pinochet

The Congress of Chili approved this Wednesday the 24 members of the Committee of Experts who will draw up the preliminary draft of a new constitution to replace the current Magna Carta inherited from the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet (1973-1990).

The Senate approved 12 members of the Committee of Experts by 41 votes in favor, 3 against, and 1 abstention. The other 12 members were chosen by the Chamber of Deputies. All applicants were appointed by Congress.

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The Committee of Experts “will have the task of drafting a draft of the new Constitution“, further “It is equal and will be established on March 6 to prepare its proposal”, indicated a statement from the Senate.

Members of the Chilean Senate participate in the election session of the Expert Commission of the new constituent process, on January 25, 2023, in Valparaíso, Chile. (Photo by Adriana Thomasa / EFE) (ADRIANA THOMASA /)

The draft will be the basis on which the Constitutional Council will work, which will present the final text and which will be made up of 50 members elected by popular vote on May 7.

Parliament also ratified the 14 members of the Admissibility Technical Committee -also appointed by Congress- whose mission will be to guarantee that the articles do not contravene the 12 fundamental bases that the new Magna Carta must include.

The bases, including identifying Chile as a “Democratic Republic” with one character “unitary and decentralized”, were established in an agreement reached by congressmen from government and opposition parties last December.

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The new constitutional process should end in December with a ratification plebiscite.

This is the third effort in five years to have a new Constitution in Chile that replaces the Fundamental Charter promulgated in 1980 by Pinochet and which has undergone dozens of reforms since the return to democracy in 1990.

Last September, 61% of the electorate rejected a project prepared by a 100% elected convention. The attempt carried out by the former president also failed Michelle Bachelet during his second term (2014-2018), through self-convened councils.

Source: Elcomercio